Our Founders


Jennifer Fitzgerald
After graduating from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Child Development, Jennifer Fitzgerald became an entrepreneur by opening Growing Years in 1989, a corporate childcare and preschool program located in downtown Long Beach. One day as Jennifer drove down a busy Long Beach street, she saw an unattended toddler wandering alone, wearing only a diaper, his parents nowhere to be seen. This is the historical context for the creation of Children Today.

Born a fighter on March 15, 1966, Jennifer survived her first of four open-heart surgeries at just 9 months old. Jennifer, or Jenn to her friends, was the second of four daughters of Mike and Kathy Choppin. Jennifer defied the odds and lived an active life swimming, sailing and skiing until her unfortunate death to heart failure in 2005. Few people knew of her heart condition because she had such tremendous energy. Jenn had an indomitable spirit, a passion for life, and she laughed easily and often. She loved her family and friends with all her heart. Her early departure reminds us to live life to the fullest by caring for others.
Jenn married Brian Fitzgerald in 1991 and they produced 2 beautiful children - Katy and Jack.

In 1997, Jenn inspired a group of these women to form Children Today, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of homeless children by providing a nurturing childcare and preschool for those children whose parents needed a second chance. Jennifer was not only the inspiration, but the driving force behind Children Today’s “The Play House West.”
 
Jennifer was a 1999 Graduate of Leadership Long Beach and went on to serve on the board of Leadership Long Beach.



Theresa Bixby
Along with Jennifer Fitzgerald, Theresa Bixby founded Children Today in 1997. Theresa and Jennifer had the ability to nurture the organization from an idea to a community service that now serves hundreds of families in need each year. Today, Theresa continues to serve as Vice President of the board of directors.

Before founding Children Today, Theresa served as MIS Project Manager for TRW Enterprise Solutions in Long Beach, where she met Jennifer Fitzgerald. She has a long track record of community involvement, having served as the PTA President for Charles F. Kettering Elementary School from 2001 to 2005, board member for Pursuit of Excellence, and a member of Stand for Children.

Theresa earned a bachelor’s degree in both Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She was a member of the U.S. National Women’s Water Polo Team for ten years, six of which she served as captain. Theresa also coached the Norwegian Women’s National Water Polo Team. Theresa lives in Long Beach with her husband and three children.